LMOUTHBASS
10-09-2006, 9:53 PM
Tonight is a sad night, my favorite fish my moonlight gourami that I've had since my very first tank 3 years or so ago has just passed. Over the past few weeks I've noticed he was slimming down a bit and his back from his doral fin to his tail was slumping downward in the slightest bit. My water parameters have all been fine. It almost seemed like he was beginning to slightly waste away. However, he was still eating just fine. I decided to do a water change and medicate the tank when I noticed his scales became slightly pine cone-ish which made me suspect dropsy however his body never became bloated. Today his scales looked normal. He seemed well until this morning when he wouldn't eat, this was the 1st indication to me that signaled the end was coming, whenever a fish won't eat it usually passes shortly thereafter. I'm wondering, if it's possible he passed because he was simply old and his life expectancy was met. From what I've found they only live 4 years. I've had him at least 3 When I bought him he was full grown, how old might he have been when I got him - maybe 1 year? How long does it take for this species to reach adulthood? I'm trying to convince myself it was simply his time. I never introduce new fish to my tank so there was no foreign entity from a new arrivals. Even when I buy new fish I Q them but I haven't bought any fish or plants in well over a year or so. Anyhow, I came home tonight to find him on the bottom of the tank sideways panting. It was heartbreaking. I then euthanized him. It was hard. He was with me from my first 20 gal to the 55 gal I have now. He lived through the mistakes of being newbie and the random tankmates. He grew large and colorful, beautiful silversides with a stunning orange tinge to his fins. I know he was a fish but he was my favorite. I will miss you Silversurfer - god bless you little fish.